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The present investigation deals with the static analysis of adhesively bonded triple stepped lap joint in laminated FRP composites using three-dimensional theory of elasticity based finite element method. The finite element model is validated with the available results in the literature for the longitudinal loading of a triple stepped lap joint made of isotropic materials and is extended for the analysis of a triple stepped lap joint made of generally orthotropic laminates subjected to longitudinal loads. Maximum stresses in FRP adherends and Adhesive are computed and the effect of fiber angle on these stresses is studied. The results of the present analysis reveals that the three-dimensional stress analysis is required for the analysis of triple stepped lap joint in laminated FRP composites.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the case of a joint venture stage to determine the successes and failures to undertake this business, based on the theory of resources and skills of entrepreneurship and business. It is intended to answer the question, what were the successes and failures committed by entrepreneurs to run the business plan in this particular case? The answers were found relating the situations described in the case with the theories of resources and skills and entrepreneurship. The analysis concludes that the empirical knowledge of entrepreneurs, in this case were not sufficient to direct the business to success, and that the lack of structured knowledge and adequate scientific support for this project strongly directed towards the non-permanence on the market.

Due to the convincing revolution in power electronic technology and the growing concern about greenhouse effect that is intensified due to the burning of fossil fuels, wind power generation is significantly increasing globally. Transmission line operators developed various grid codes that require wind turbines to remain connected to support power grids during intermittent disturbance events which motivated researchers to investigate the impact of various grid disturbances on the overall performance of the wind energy conversion system (WECS). No attention, however, has been given to investigate the impact of voltage source converter (VSC) faults on the low voltage ride through (LVRT) of the DFIG-based WECS. In this paper, the impact of a fire-through fault when it takes place within the RSC and the GSC on the LVRT capability of the DFIG are investigated. A STATCOM controller to mitigate the effects of these faults is proposed. The DFIG compliance with recently released LVRT grid codes under the studied faults with and without the STATCOM were examined and compared. Simulation results indicated that fire-through faults have a serious impact on the DFIG voltage profile, especially when they occur in the GSC. The proposed STATCOM controller is effective in improving the dynamic performance of the DFIG during the studied faults and hence the connection of wind turbine to the grid can be maintained.

The development of self-compacting concrete (SCC) was a significant step towards effectiveness at building sites, realistically producing prefabricated concrete rudiments, improved working conditions and better quality and emergence of concrete structures. By addition of fibres to SCC, bar reinforcement can be replaced and the performance of concrete structures improved. Self-compacting fibre reinforced concrete (SCFRC) combines the benefits of SCC in the fresh state and an enhanced performance of fibre reinforced concrete in the hardened state. With the special characteristics of SCFRC new fields of application can be explored. The objective of the study is to determine and do the comparative study of the properties of concrete containing no fibres and concrete with fibres, as well as the comparison on the effects of different type and aspect ratio of fibres to the self compacted concrete. This investigation was carried out using several tests, which included workability tests of SCC, compressive test, indirect tensile test and flexural test.

This discourse is directed at highlighting the importance of financial accountability in school management. Budgeting is a managerial function that enables every administrator to efficiently utilize all financial resources available to the organisation. Financial accountability will be difficult to achieve in the absence of good budgeting. The role of the school administrator in effective budgeting, as well as the challenges to effective budgeting in the face of a negatively skewed national budgetary allocations are also highlighted. It concludes that effective budgeting will be difficult to achieve in the existence of financial uncertainties, policy inconsistency in educational development and increasing pressure on education facilities arising from growing demand for formal education in the public school system. It recommends the development of an education policy that will have a minimum life span of twenty years; and the development of a body of school system personnel that is compliant to the digital system of information management. A reliable information base and efficient information management system will go a long way in facilitating good budgeting practice and effective accountability.

This paper examines the causal relationship between energy consumption, economic growth and prices evidence from Pakistan by using the annual time series data from 1980 to 2011. Co-integration, Engle Granger test and Error correction techniques are used to achieve the objective. The empirical results of co-integration test shows that energy consumption and economic growth are cointegrated. In addition, causality test results reveal that there is a short-run and long-run Granger causality running from economic growth to energy consumption for Pakistan. The empirical results of this study provide policy makers a better understanding of energy consumption-economic growth relationship to formulate energy policies in Pakistan. In this study, economic growth cause energy consumption, it suggests that the implementation of energy conservation policies may be implemented with little or no adverse effect on economic growth. Therefore, there is relatively more scope for energy conservation measures as a feasible policy in Pakistan.

Nickel (II) complexes and Copper (II) complexes with the two ligands TPA and 2-N-benzyl TPA with nitrate anion are prepared. The isolated solid complexes are subjected to various physical measurements, such as conductivity measurements, and spectral behaviour apart from the chemical analysis.

In mineral bio-beneficiation, it is very important to understand the microbial surface characteristics and its behaviour onto the mineral surface. Bacillus cereus bacterium has never been used before as a bio-reagent for separation of different mineral systems. In this paper, complete characterization of such type of bacteria, isolated from Egyptian iron ore surface, including gram stain, growth curve, Biolog microbial identification, Zeta potential measurements, FTIR measurements, Scanning Electron Microscope, SEM as well as protein and polysaccharide analysis have been studied. The results confirmed that Bacillus cereus is a gram positive bacterium, rod shaped, smooth and circular with different types of by-products as polysaccharides, carboxylic acids and amino acids that gives an amphoteric behaviour on the cell surface. The results of zeta potential showed that the iso-electric point (IEP) of iron oxide (? 6.3) is significantly displaced to lower values (? 2.2) after treatment with the bacterial isolates which indicates the bacterial hydrophobic effect. This is in agreement with FTIR results which confirmed the formation of hydrogen bond between OH group (of the polysaccharides part) and/or the COOH group of both the polysaccharides or the protein fractions of the bacteria with the positively adsorption sites of hematite lead to a reduction in the zeta potential of its surface to be close from that of the bacteria itself. The results obtained showed a better affinity of Bacillus cereus to hematite mineral and could be used in separation of such mineral from its associated gangue minerals.

Various companies have and are planning to market their products into the rural areas. This paper basically talks about all those problems that the Co(s) may or have faced in promoting their products in the rural markets. Different challenges exist for the managers in how to best market their brands and establish themselves amongst rural people. In addition to the challenges & hindrances, the report also focuses on many opportunities that basically attract the marketers to come and promote their products. A vast potential exists in the rural areas that has been left unexercised for a long time. Now due to the saturation point that has or is about to be reached in the Urban & Semi-urban markets, the Co(s) are focussing now onto the rural areas and trying to capitalise on the great potential that the rural areas have in store. Thus the research paper covers all these aspects quite extensively to present the deep insights that prevail in the rural market scenario.

The objectives of this paper were to show the impact of corruption on some macroeconomic variables as well as simulate a shock to corruption and view its impact on those variables for the period 1980 to 2010. To achieve these objectives, a VAR model was used, along with its uses namely the impulse response functions and the variance decomposition. Variables used include the GDP, life expectancy, investment, government expenditure, inflation rate, oil revenue, government revenue and corruption. Findings from the simulations using both the impulse response functions and variance decomposition show that corruption explains a considerable portion of economic development. It also shows the negative effects of corruption on economic growth and the indirect effects as well, through other variables of interest especially investment, life expectancy and oil revenue. Conclusions reached show that the effects of corruption on macroeconomic variables are long term in nature and it tends to increase over time. The implication is that if corruption is not tackled aggressively, low economic growth will continue unabated in the country.